For students who are unsure of their major, state universities offer more options.
"State universities typically provide a wider variety of majors compared to smaller colleges, so students can test the waters before settling in on a field of study," says Orsolini.
Department diversity is also a key advantage. "State universities are often large enough to afford a wider mix of academic departments, thereby offering access to very high-caliber professors across a much broader set of departments," adds Kate McKeon, founder of Prepwise in New York City.
The options enable students to shop around for a major, taking a variety of classes in their freshman and sophomore years until they've determined their field.